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M. V. B. ETHRIDGE.

MAIL BAG FASTENING.

No. 346,149. Patented July 27, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ANDREW J. BAILEY, OF SAME PLACE.

-MAlL-BAG FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,149, dated July 27, 1886.

Application filed November 28, 1885. Serial No. 184,156. (K0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. B. ETH- RIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fastenings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail-bag fastenings; and it consists in the combination, with a bag, satchel, or similar article, of a locking-way composed of metallic eyelets or loops, one end of each of which is preferably made flaring,said eyelets being attached to the mouth of the bag on opposite sides, with intervening spaces, in such a manner as to interlock or comeintoline with each other when the bag is closed; It also consists in the combination, wit-h such locking-way, of a flexible locking-rod; and, further, in certain details of construction, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side View of the upper portion of a mail-bag provided with my improved locking devices. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one end of the mouth of the bag partly opened. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the opposite end of the mouth of the bag closed. Fig. 4 showsa section on the line as x of Fig. 2, and also a side view of a pair of the locking guidesockets, showing the manner of securing the same to the bag. Fig. 5 shows an end view of the socket that receives the head of the flexible locking-rod, and also a longitudinal section of sockets with locking-rod in position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the socket that receives the head of the flexible locking-rod; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the head detached from the flexible rod.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

In the mouth of the bag A, on both sides, are

secured the metallic eyelets, guide-loops, or locking-sockets B B. These eyelets, loops, or

sockets are preferably made of cast nietal,bellshaped or flaring at one end, as shown, and are provided with shanks a, by which they are riveted or otherwise attached to the bag. It will be observed that the shanks a are elongated laterally, so as to project at one end of the socket, and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the eyelets or sockets B B are made in two sets having their shanks pointing in opposite directions. \Vhen attached to the mouth of the bag, one set of eyelets or sockets is arranged on each side, so that the sockets and shanks on opposite sides break joints with each other. The shanked portions a a of the eyelets or sockets B B are attached on each side of the bag in a continuous line, with their ends nearly touching, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that the slight intervening spaces between the adjacent ends of the shanks will permit the necessary flexibility in the mouth of the bag, by which it may be folded, doubled, or bended.

On the inner sides of the shanks a a is a leather strip, b, one on each side of the bag. These strips b I), together with the shanks a a, are firmly secured to the bag by rivets c c. The lips or edges of the bag are thus composed of leather and disconnected metallic pieces so united as to combine the necessary durability and strength of structure when the bag is closed with the proper degree of flexibility required in folding or bending the bag, and also in adjusting it in position to receive mailmatter. By this construction it is obvious that the bag can be readily hung or supported with its mouth opened either square or in a circle, it being only necessary to place the suspending-straps d d nearer to the ends or center on each side of the month, according to the position required; and it is obvious that the bag can be bent or doubled for convenience and easein carrying. The end eyelet or socket, B, on one side of the bag is made somewhat larger than the others for the purpose of receiving the head of the flexible locking-rod O. This rod consists, preferably, of a cord of fibrous material wrapped with copper or steel wire, a metallic head, D, being secured to one end. The head D is formed with a flaring end that corresponds in form with the flaring or bellshaped end of the socket B in which it is received. This head also has on its under side, at the opposite end, a lug, e, that enters a 1011- gitudinal recess or guideway,f, in the lower part of the end socket, B, the form of which is shown in Fig. 6, while the head of the flexible rod is represented in Fig. 7. The head of the flexible rod 0 is attached to the bag by a chain, 9, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the rod is withdrawn from the eyelets or sockets in unfastening the bag it is not liable to become lnislaid. It will be observed that the flaring bell-shaped ends of the eyelets or sockets B B and B are all turned in the same direction. and thus serve as guides to direct the end of the flexible rod and enable the bag to be secured quickly, the sockets or eyelets on opposite sides, which break joints, as before described, being so arranged as to register accurately with the spaces between those on the opposite side when the mouth of the bag is closed. The rod 0, being so made as to combine a certain de gree of flexibility and hardness, can thus be readily passed through the line of sockets or eyelets from end to end.

A combined hasp and tag holder, E, is secured to one side of the bag. This hasp is provided with the usual slot or opening, 71, for engaging a staple, F, and it also has a lug or projection, t", that passes through a slot, k, in the recessed part f of the end socket or eyelet. After the rod 0 has been passed through the eyelets or sockets B B until its head D rests in the end socket, B, with the lug e in the back end of the recess f, the hasp E should be broughtinto engagement with the staple F, the

lug i being passed through the slot 7c in front of the lug 6, so as to prevent the rod 0 from beingw ithdrawn. The parts are then secured by means of a padlock or other fastening device attached to the staple.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mail-bag fastening, a locking-way composed of bell-shaped eyelets or loops arranged about the mouth edge of the bag, in combination with a flexible locking-rod, substantiall y as described.

2. The combination, with a mail-bag, of a locking-way composed of metallic eyelets B B, u

made bell-shaped at'one end, the end eyelet or socket, B, having guideway or recessfand slot 7c, the flexible locking rod 0, having a head, D, provided with lug e, the hasp E, having lug t, and means for locking the hasp to its staple, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a mail-bag, of the metallic eyelets or sockets'B B, having shanks a a, the leather strips I) b, a locking-rod for engaging the sockets or eyelets, and means for securing said rod in its engagement with the eyelets, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a mail-bag having a locking-way composed of metallic eyelets or loops arranged about the mouth edge of the bag, of a flexible locking-rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN V. B. ETHRIDGE.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. HALL Apr-mus, JOHN H. MOONEY. 

